During the ceremony, Capt. Jason Neubauer transferred the duties and responsibilities of commanding officer to Cmdr. Ryan Manning. Neubauer will be reporting to Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. to take over the office in charge of maritime investigations.

Manning, a native of Burbank, South Dakota, arrives at MSU Chicago from Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach where he was the chief of prevention. He received his commission from the Coast Guard Academy in 1994. His other assignments include the Coast Guard Cutter Active, Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C., Marine Safety Office in Los Angeles/Long Beach California, and the Pentagon. Manning holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and a master’s degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virgina.

A change-of-command ceremony is a military tradition that represents an official transfer of authority and responsibility from one officer to another. Many of the military traditions are displayed during a Change-of Command ceremony, such as an inspection of the crew and a military band performance. A commanding officer is an officer in charge of a military unit and the person responsible for all operations associated with the unit and the overall well-being of the crew.

Marine Safety Unit Chicago is responsible for executing the Coast Guard’s port safety and security, marine environmental protection, and commercial vessel safety missions under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security. These missions ensure a safe, secure, and environmentally sound maritime domain that continues to promote recreation and the free flow of commerce on Southern Lake Michigan, as well as the Chicago Area Waterway System and the Illinois River Watershed.

Marine Safety Unit Chicago’s area of responsibility includes nine Lake Michigan ports, 101 regulated waterfront facilities, 300 miles of Lake Michigan coast line and 180 miles of the Illinois River and its tributaries.